Three men in a boat tooling around a pond, using a generator and metal rig to electrically stun fish, would appear to be a rather unsporting way to capture that evening’s seafood course.

But that was not the case Wednesday — state Wildlife Resources Commission staff were getting an idea of the fish stock in a large pond at Neuseway Nature Center ahead of Saturday’s youth fishing event.

Children 15 years old and younger will have the full run of the pond from 9 a.m. to noon and be able to compete with children at similar events statewide to win one of 150 fishing-related prizes.

It’s all a part of an effort by the Wildlife Commission, Neuse Sport Shop, Trout Unlimited and the U.S. Forest Service to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week.

“This is a community fishing lake, and we try to get out here and understand what’s going on,” said Ben Ricks, Wildlife Commission fisheries biologist for District 2. “Obviously we’re stocking fish, so we’re going to evaluate what’s going on to figure out if our stocking rates are correct.”

Ricks, assisted by assistant fish biologist Kyle Rachels and Neuseway Nature Center Director Bobby Cox, netted, measured and weighed bass, carp, catfish, gar, shad and whatever else made its way into the pond either through stocking or migration from the Neuse River during flooding.

“This lake, because it’s so close to the river, during high water you get some of those river species swimming in here,” Ricks said.

About 600 catfish brought up from the hatchery in Watha were introduced into the pond Wednesday.

“It’s usually about a year and a half until they’re ready,” said Matt Turpin, state hatchery technician. “We actually have cans in the pond right now to catch catfish eggs.”

The catfish stocking is part of an annual six- to eight-month stocking process for the pond through the community fishing program.

Young anglers looking to hook those fish Saturday will be eligible to win the grand prize, a lifetime sportsman license donated by Neuse Sport Shop, which includes freshwater and saltwater fishing privileges, along with hunting as well. First prize, donated by the N.C. State Council of Trout Unlimited, is a lifetime freshwater fishing license.

The Wildlife Commission is contributing additional fishing-related prizes with a drawing to be held at the end of the month. Winners will be posted to ncwildlife.org in July.

Saturday’s event is open to the public, free of charge.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.